V. tangalunga measures 585 to 950 mm in head and body
length; tail length is 300 to 482 mm. Coloration is composed of black spots on a
background of tawny or greyish body colour. There are usually three black and
two white collars on the sides of the neck and throat. The fur is long and
loose, and usually elongated along the spinal area forming a low crest or mane.
This mane is marked by a black stripe running from the shoulders to the tail.
The tail is also banded with black and white. The feet of the Oriental civet are
all black.Viverra have five toes on each foot. On the third and fourth digit of
the forefeet are lobes of skin which sheath and protect their retractile claws.
The dental formula is I 3/3 C 1/1 PM 3-4/3-4 M 1-2/1-2. (Nowak 1983)

Range Description:

The species is known to occur in Peninsular Malaysia (Azlan,
2003; Kawanishi and Sunquist, 2004; Malaysia Carnivore Project, 2006; Laidlaw
pers. comm.), Indonesia, Philippine islands (Heaney and Tabaranza 1991; Heaney
et al. 1991) and Sulawesi (Buton island) (Jennings et al. 2006). In Indonesia,
it is found in Borneo (Colon 2002), Sumatra, Rhio-Lingga Archipelago, Bawal
Island, Bangka Island, Karimata Island, Sulawesi, Telok Pai, Amboina and the
Moluccas (Meiri, 2005; Wozencraft, 2005). Two specimens have been recorded from
Java (Meiri, 2005) but there is no evidence of a native population. In the
Philippines: Bohol, Busuanga, Culion, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros,
Palawan, Samar and Sibuyan. It is also reported from Camiguin (Heaney and
Tabaranza. 1991), Catanduanes (Heaney et al., 1991), Panay (Timm and Birney,
1980, Lastimosa pers. comm.) and Siguijor (Timm and Birney, 1980). In Malaysia,
it is found in Borneo, Banggi Island, Langkawi Island, Penang Island and in
Peninsular Malaysia (Corbet and Hill, 1992; Nor, 1996; Meiri, 2005). It was
introduced to several islands in Southeast Asia (Jennings et al., 2006). The
historical range of the species includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the
Philippines and Singapore (Corbet and Hill, 1992; Nowak, 1999; Wozencraft,
2005). Although it is also listed from Cambodia, China andThailandin
Wozencraft (1993), there is no evidence it occurs in these countries.
Countries: Native:
Indonesia (Kalimantan, Maluku - Introduced, Sulawesi, Sumatera); Malaysia
(Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak); Philippines; Singapore

Population:

Although the Malay civet is a widespread species, little
is still known about its population levels in countries where it is native or
has been introduced. Colon (2002) found lower population densities in logged
forest than in unlogged forest, and suggested that this may be because of lower
fruit availability in logged forest. The species is widespread in Asia and is
moderately common in forest and rare in other habitats.
Population Trend: Stable

Habitat and Ecology:

The Malay civet occurs in a variety of habitats including
primary and secondary forests, cultivated land and the outskirts of villages
(Nowak, 1999; Colon, 2002; Jennings et al., 2006). It is found from sea level to
at least 1,200 m (Rabor, 1955; Payne et al., 1985; Rickart et al., 1993; Heaney
et al., in press). Malay civets are solitary, omnivorous and primarily
terrestrial (Kanchanasakha et al., 1998). A wide range of home-ranges for Malay
civets has now been documented on Sulawesi (24 – 189 ha) and Borneo (27 – 283
ha) (MacDonald and Wise, 1979; Nozaki et al., 1994; Colon, 2002; Jennings et
al., 2006). Mean home-range size for adults of both sexes was 110 ha in Sabah
and 70 ha on Sulawesi (Colon, 2002; Jennings et al., 2006). Colon (2002)
considered that the Malay civet was not territorial in Sabah but Jennings et al.
(2006) found low intra-sexual overlap on Buton Island. Malay civets are mainly
nocturnal (Colon, 2002; Jennings et al., 2006). Day rest sites are situated at
ground level and associated with some form of cover (Colon, 2002; Jennings et
al., 2006). Malay civets are solitary, omnivorous, and primarily terrestrial
(Kanchanasakha et al. 1998). A wide range of home-ranges for Malay civets have
now been documented on Buton Island, Sulawesi (24– 89 ha) and Borneo (27–283 ha)
(MacDonald and Wise 1979; Nozaki et al. 1994; Colon 2002; Jennings et al. 2006).
Mean home-range size for adults of both sexes was 110 ha in Sabah, East Malaysia
and 70 ha on Buton Island, Sulawesi (Colon 2002; Jennings et al. 2006). Colon
(2002) considered that the Malay civet was not territorial in East Malaysia but
Jennings et al.(2006) found low intra-sexual overlap on Buton Island. Malay
civets are most active at night from 18h00 to 07h00, although Malay civets were
more active during the day on Buton Island, Sulawesi than in Sabah, East
Malaysia (Colon 2002; Jennings et al. 2006). Day rest sites are situated at
ground level and associated with some form of cover such as logs, dense brush
pile, or thick herbaceous vegetation (Colon 2002; Jennings et al. 2006). The
species’ habitat is primary and secondary lowland, montane, and mossy forest
from sea level to at least 1,200 m asl (Rabor 1955, Rickart et al. 1993, Heaney
et al. in press). It is also found also in agricultural areas and near human
settlements in the proximity of forest (Wemmer and Watling, 1986; Nowak, 1999).
In a study on home range behaviour of this species on Buton Island, Jennings et
al. (2006) found a home range size of 70 ha, with smaller home ranges for
females as compared to those found in logged forest on Borneo. It is an
adaptable species that seems to thrive in a variety of environmental conditions,
including disturbed areas (Jennings et al. 2006). This species was recorded in
primary lowland rainforest in Tawau Hills National Park in Borneo by Wells et
al. (2005). All Bornean civets (except Diplogale hosei) have been recorded in
disturbed forest areas, though abundance declines in this habitat (Heydon and
Bulloh, 1996; Colon, 2002; pers. comm.). It was recorded in secondary forest,
that was logged in the 1970s, and which surrounds a palm estate, in Malaysia in
2000-01 by Azlan (2003). This species is ground-living (Medway, 1978) and
predominantly crepuscular (Azlan and Gulan Azad, 2005).
Systems: Terrestrial

Major Threat(s):

As a ground-living species it is exposed to snaring and other
forms of ground-level trapping, and hunting with dogs, however, the limited
survey in areas heavily used by people suggests it is rather well able to
persist at general levels of threat. The species is occasionally hunted for food
and treated as a pest as it raids poultry.

Conservation Actions:

Malay civets are found in a number of protected areas
throughout its range. This species is protected in Malaysia under the Wildlife
Protection Act of 1972 (WPA, 1972). Field surveys, ecological studies, habitat
protection and monitoring of threats are needed.

The species is found in a number of protected areas throughout its range. This
species was recorded from Tawau Hills National Park in Borneo in 2003-04 (Wells
et al. 2005). This species was recorded from Jerangau Forest Reserve in
Peninsular Malaysia in 2000-01 (Azlan, 2003). This species is partially
protected in Malaysia under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 (WPA 1972),
meaning that anyone found killing this species will be liable to a fine not
exceeding three thousand ringgit (Approx. USD 790) or a term of imprisonment not
exceeding three years, or both (Azlan, 2003). However, Section 55 of this Act
allows farmer to shoot any wild animal that causes damage to their property, as
long as reasonable efforts have been made to frighten the animal away, and many
civets are considered a pest in Peninsular Malaysia, as the prey on small
livestock and raid fruit orchards (Azlan, 2003).